Evolution of video games [Infographic]

Games have come a long way in 50 years – from expensive experimental machines that the general public couldn’t access, to a worldwide form of entertainment that draws in tens of billions of dollars annually and connects an estimated 2.6 billion gamers. People love and play games in a myriad of ways – and some gamers even theme their weddings around their favorite video games! But how did this industry go from one of pure science to a mass entertainer? Well, thanks to this infographic by List Enthusiast, we can have a look at how the games have evolved since their inception.

Early Era

Like many other things, the first computer game was theorized by Allan Turing. The early game engines simply took real life board games and computerized them; these machines would be kept on universities or displayed at the World’s Fair, and the earliest bore little resemblance to video games as we understand them today. However, they quickly sparked great advances in computer research, and it wasn’t long before they were finding application – the US military developing the war simulation ‘Hutspiel’ in 1955.

Classic Arcade Games

However, video games weren’t widely available to the general public until the first models of game consoles and arcade video games were developed and released in the early 1970s. These games, which tested groundbreaking new ways of using computers, might look familiar to modern gamers; some classics even still get played today. Games of this era drew from other culture – popular movies, sports or even pen and paper RPGs.

3D Games

Games continued to advance over the years, with advances in processing power allowing for new kinds of gameplay and improved graphics. Console games went through a lot of changes, introducing more ergonomic controllers and a variety of quality titles. Consoles eventually settled into the three main manufacturers – Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft – that we see competing today, although Sega was also up there as a console manufacturer until 2001. The 1990s saw PC gaming rise in popularity to threaten that of consoles. Computers became more widespread and could be used for other things too. As the world became more connected via the internet, online gaming took off – another area where PCs had the advantage. Videos and reviews began to be shared online, and popular services like Valve’s Steam allow for games to be bought online too.

Online Games

It wasn’t until the 7th Generation of consoles that they became able to connect to the internet as well. Online gaming well and truly established itself as a sphere for competition – allowing for some competitive gamers to even turn professional, while others take part in massive multiplayer games that bring together thousands of gamers at once.

VR Gaming

Today, many thousands of people are employed in the gaming industry, building new games for the billions of gamers around the world. And we’re starting to get a view of what the future of video gaming will look like – with technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) promising to reshape the way we game. And who knows what future technologies will bring?